Ever felt so hurt, in love, or broken from your wounds? Author Rupi Kaur’s first collection of poetry and illustrations called ‘milk and honey’, released in 2014, can make you feel emotions such as loneliness, lust, love, sadness and happiness.
This collection is a work of art divided into four chapters that mimic four stages of a relationship. ‘milk and honey’ is open to interpretation. The rawness and realness of Rupi Kaur’s words lets you into her mind and experience life, love and pain.
While Kaur’s book is innocent, it also very risqué with illustrations Kaur drew herself. How she crafts a broken heart with flowers growing in between the cracks is compelling for people who have had their heart broken by love, family or themselves. This book of poetry is crafted for a person over the age of 16 due to the content.
Kaur was born in Punjab, India but immigrated to Toronto, Ont. when she was four years old. She studied Rhetoric and Professional writing at the University of Waterloo, but she has been writing and drawing her whole life.
Kaur’s words soothe your mind and soul.
The poems in ‘milk and honey’ go into detail describing what kind of childhood and life Kaur had and has. She did not have a strong relationship with her father when growing up andshe used her childhood experiences to write her first book of poetry. “It’s the hurting that comes before the healing”, she writes in the foreword to the book.
“i am a museum full of art but you had your eyes shut” is just one line from over 100 poems published in the collection. This poem speaks to people who have been in a one-sided relationship, or have been hurt by someone who does not seem to care about the person.
Kaur has the talent to evoke feelings of sadness and happiness at the same time. She has the power to make break-ups seem so easy by writing her heart and soul out.
Kaur knows life has ups and downs, and knows how to see the beauty in every aspect then communicate that in words.
At the young age of 17, she started to showcase her poetry and illustrations. In 2015, ‘milk and honey’ was on the New York Times bestsellers list for 25 weeks.
Kaur, a University of Waterloo alumn, has been tagged not as just a poet but made headlines back in 2015 when she was a part of a school project about menstruation.
Kaur’s photo of herself on her bed with a bloodstain on her sweatpants was first posted to Instagram then hit the online community on both Facebook and Twitter.
Kaur’s poems were first self-published on Amazon in 2014, but they became such a popular read, publisher Andrews McNeel decided to do a second print run in October of 2015.
“i hope your eyes fall in love with the poems. i hope the milk spills through you and the honey sweetens the way. thank you for holding my heart in your hands.” This statement from the foreword of her book shows how Kaur can touch your heart with the sense of love, loss, womanhood and healing.
The poems in ‘milk and honey’ will feed your soul. Drink up.
